Muhammad Ali

Arguably the one of the most recognized public figures in the world, as well as one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century, Muhammad Ali was the three-time heavyweight boxing champion of the wor...
Read More...

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /media/www/hollywood/Web/releases/20150325105258/vendor/doctrine/common/lib/Doctrine/Common/Annotations/FileCacheReader.php on line 202
Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /media/www/hollywood/Web/releases/20150325105258/vendor/doctrine/common/lib/Doctrine/Common/Annotations/FileCacheReader.php on line 202
Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /media/www/hollywood/Web/releases/20150325105258/vendor/doctrine/common/lib/Doctrine/Common/Annotations/FileCacheReader.php on line 202
Liam Neeson shaken up by Manny meeting

By:
WENN.com
Mar 12, 2015

Liam Neeson was left trembling when he met boxer Manny Pacquiao for the first time on Wednesday (11Mar15). The Taken star and the fighter were both guests on U.S. chat show Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Neeson, who once narrated a documentary about the sportsman's life, jumped at the chance to meet one of his heroes backstage.
He says, "I met Muhammad Ali many, many years ago and I had the exact same feeling - my two knees were going like that (shaking)... I love boxing."
And now Neeson is determined to get to Pacquiao's fight with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in May (15), adding, "I will do anything to get there. I'm shooting a film with Martin Scorsese in Taiwan and I'm contracted until the end of April, so hopefully he'll shoot fast."

The gloves Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston wore during their infamous 1965 rematch have sold at auction for $956,000 (£597,500). The gloves from the fight in Maine were picked up by an anonymous buyer at The Heritage Auction in Dallas, Texas on Saturday (21Feb15) for almost twice their original estimate.
Auctioneer Chris Ivy says, "(The gloves are) among the most important pieces of memorabilia to ever come to market... These transcend sports."
Ali signed both pairs of gloves in 1995 when he celebrated the fight's 30th anniversary.

A letter written by boxing legend Muhammed Ali requesting exemption from the Vietnam War is expected to fetch $56,000 (£35,000) at auction. The sporting great was conscripted to join the U.S. army in 1966, but after converting to Islam, he declined to go to war and wrote to government officials to appeal.
An extract from the letter reads, "This petition is made to you in order to avoid injustice and unnecessary litigation in the courts."
The defiant act led to Ali being arrested, tried and sentenced to five years in jail in 1967.
Ali was fined $10,000 (£6,300) and banned from boxing for more than three years, but he stayed out of prison after appealing his sentence and he returned to the ring in 1970.
The letter will be sold by Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas on 21 February (15).

Boxing legend Leon Spinks is recovering at a rehabilitation centre after enduring multiple surgeries and a lengthy hospital stay stemming from a freak accident at home. The Olympic gold medal winner, who famously beat Muhammad Ali in 1978, was hospitalised in October (14) after he accidentally swallowed a chicken bone, which became trapped in his intestines.
He subsequently underwent a number of operations and spent two months in hospital before he was released in December (14) to spend Christmas with his family.
According to TMZ.com, Spinks, 61, has now been admitted to a rehab centre to work on regaining his strength.
His wife Brenda says, "He's doing much better but it's a slow process... He was in bed for two months. It takes a lot out of you."
Brenda hopes he can be released from the facility soon, adding, "We're going to be having a meeting with the rehab facility in the next couple of weeks."
Spinks' former opponent Ali also suffered a health crisis late last year (14) and spent the holidays in hospital. Ali was back under the care of doctors this month (Jan15) to treat problems relating to a urinary tract infection, but was released in time for his 73rd birthday on Saturday (17Jan15).

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali has been discharged from hospital on the eve of his birthday. The former heavyweight champion, who will turn 73 on Saturday (17Jan15), was admitted to an undisclosed medical facility earlier this week (beg12Jan15) for follow-up care for a urinary tract infection, just days after he was released following an extended stay over the Christmas holidays.
However, the retired sportsman, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, was back at home on Friday (16Jan15) and is now preparing to celebrate his birthday on Saturday (17Jan15) by cheering on his hometown college basketball team from the University of Louisville as it faces off against North Carolina's Duke University.
Family spokesman Bob Gunnell says, "He's home and resting and glad to be out of the hospital... The Ali family greatly appreciates the outpouring of support and continued well wishes."

Muhammad Ali's representative has confirmed the sporting legend is "awake" and "in great spirits" and hopes to be home from hospital in time to celebrate his 73rd birthday on Saturday (17Jan15). The boxing icon, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, was admitted to a medical facility earlier this week (beg12Jan15), just days after he was discharged following an extended stay over the Christmas holidays.
Ali was believed to have been battling pneumonia, and it has now been confirmed he has come down with a severe urinary tract infection.
Unconfirmed reports suggest he was found unresponsive at his home and admitted to an intensive care unit, but his spokesman Bob Gunnell has assured fans Ali is in a stable condition and hopes to be home in time to celebrate his 73rd birthday on Saturday with his family.
Gunnell tells the New York Daily News, "He's awake and he's in great spirits. He's doing very well, spending his time listening to music and watching old movies and talking to the people who are visiting him. He's doing well."
A statement adds, "Muhammad Ali, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, is undergoing hospitalised follow-up care associated with the urinary tract infection for which he was previously being treated. He was admitted to an undisclosed hospital earlier this week and is in stable condition. Ali is expected to be released... (on) January 16. Ali hopes to celebrate his 73rd birthday on Saturday at home with family."

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali has returned to the hospital for follow-up care for a urinary tract infection. The fighter was hospitalised in Kentucky last month (Dec14) after falling ill. He is expected to be back at home in time for his 73rd birthday celebrations this weekend (beg16Jan15). The former heavyweight champion suffers from Parkinson's disease.

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali has been released from hospital. The sportsman, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, was hospitalised in Kentucky last month (Dec14) with an initial diagnosis of pneumonia.
However, following his release on Tuesday (06Jan15), a spokesperson for Ali revealed the former athlete was actually suffering from a severe urinary tract infection.
The spokesperson says, "Muhammad Ali was released from the hospital last night. After further observation and testing, doctors determined that Ali was suffering from a severe urinary tract infection, not pneumonia as originally diagnosed. The boxing legend has fully recovered and is now at his home.
"Ali looks forward to celebrating his upcoming 73rd birthday on January 17th with his family and friends. The Ali family greatly appreciates the outpouring of support and continued well wishes. They also want to thank the team of doctors and nurses for their exceptional care."

Doctors hope to release legendary boxer Muhammad Ali from hospital before Christmas Day (25Dec14) as he has "vastly improved" following his bout of pneumonia over the weekend (20-21Dec14). The sportsman, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, was hospitalised on Saturday (20Dec14) with a mild case of the lung infection.
Ali's spokesman Bob Gunnell says the star's condition has improved "vastly" so he can expect to be home for the holidays.
Gunnell adds, "Ali's team of doctors hopes to discharge him soon... The Ali family continues to request privacy and appreciates all of the prayers and well wishes."
The 72 year old's hospitalisation came after weeks of speculation about his health.

Muhammad Ali's daughter has assured fans of the boxing legend that her dad is well on the road to recovery after he was hospitalised with pneumonia over the weekend. Rasheda Ali-Walsh tells TMZ.com the 72-year-old sports legend is feeling good following his health scare.
She explains, "My daddy is a strong man. He's so resilient and we're all very grateful and blessed."
The boxer's daughter adds, "When I see my dad, I'm gonna tell him about all the people who have sent their love. I know it's gonna make him feel great to know all these people are thinking about him. He'll love it."

Title

Summary

Arguably the one of the most recognized public figures in the world, as well as one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century, Muhammad Ali was the three-time heavyweight boxing champion of the world, with 56 wins - including 37 knockouts - to his name, including three historic matches against Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier and George Foreman. Ali was also a leading social and political figure in the 1960s and 1970s who nearly lost his boxing career due to his opposition to the Vietnam War for religious reasons. His extraordinary physicality and personality, which combined a gift for poetic boasts with a deeply thoughtful and philosophical nature, captured the public's attention like no athlete before or since, and his deeds both in and out of the ring inspired millions. Though physical ailments slowed Ali after his retirement in 1980, he remained a formidable proponent for humanitarian causes, including peace missions for the United Nations in the Middle East. Ali's life and career, which was told and retold in countless films, books and other media, retained its ability to move and amaze for decades, and elevated him from sports icon to living legend.